Music-sheet-feed-controlling mechanism.



PATENTED OCT. 11, 1904.

I. H. DICKINSON.

MUSIC SHEET FEED CONTROLLING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 24, 1904.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

N0 MODEL.

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4 O 9 1 L2 1 1 C D E T N E T A P J. H. DICKINSON. MUSIC SHEET FEEDCONTROLLING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 24, 1904.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

N0 MODEL.

Patented October 1 1, 1904.

UNITED STATES PATENT OEEIcE.

JOSEPH H. DICKINSON, OF GARWOOD, NEIY JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO THE AEOLIANCOMPANY, OF NEIV YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF CON- NEOTIOUT.

MUSIC-SHEET-FEED-CONTROLLING MECHANISM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 772,225, dated October11, 1904. Application filed June 24, 1904. Serial No. 213,999. (No modemT aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JosErH H. DICKINSON, a citizen of the United States,residing at Garwood, in the county of Union and State of New Jersey,have invented new and useful Improvements inMusic-Sheet-Feed-Oontrolling Mechanism, of which the following is aspecification.

My invention relates to mechanism for imposing a graduated orcompensating resistance to the movement of perforated musicsheets inmechanical musical instruments or instrument-players.

It is found that in the practical operation of mechanical musicalinstruments or instrument-players the tension on the perforatedmusic-sheet in being drawn off of the musicroll by the take-up rollincreases progressively as the paper on the music-roll is drawn off, andthis results in a faulty feed of the paper across the tracker-board.This objection is overcome by my invention, by means of which a variableresistance is imposed upon the rotation of the music-roll, suchresistance being greatest when the maximum amount of music-sheet is uponthe music-roll and decreasing gradually as the paper is drawn off, thuscompensating for the tendency hereinbefore referred to and insuring aneven feed in a straight line and under normal tension across thetracker-board.

With the foregoing object in view my invention consists in the mechanismhereinafter described, reference being made to the accompanying drawingsfor purposes of illustration.

That which I regard as new will be set forth in the accompanying clausesof the claim.

In the accompanying drawings, illustrating that which I consider thebest-known embodi- 4 ment of my invention, Figure 1 is. a sideelevation, partly in section. Fig. 2 is a similar view with the parts indifferent position, and

Fig. 3 is a plan view.

In the said drawings the reference-numeral 1 designates a fragment ofthe casing of a musical instrument or instrument-player; 2, themusic-roll, carrying a sheet of perforated music 3, from whichmusic-roll said musicsheet is drawn by a take-up roll 4, which winds thesheet upon itself. 5 designates a 5 tracker-board across which themusic-sheet passes, as is well known. These parts may be of any usual orknown construction, arranged in any desired manner. They are illustratedin the drawings generally and con- 5 5 ventionally, as the particulardetails of arrangement or construction thereof is not concerned in myinvention.

A shaft 6 is rotatably mounted in the casing 1 and is provided with asleeve or coup- 6O ling 6, of any suitable type, adapted to receive anend pintle of the music-roll in such manner that the music-roll and saidshaft will ro tate in unison in the operation of the apparatus. Uponthis shaft is mounted a brake- 5 wheel 7, constituting an element of thevariable or compensating resistance mechanism. Cooperating with thiswheel is a brake-shoe 8, carried by a movable arm 9, which is pivoted toa suitable bracket member 10, carried 7 by the casing. The free end ofthe arm 9 is connected by a suitable spring 11 with one member 12 of acrank-arm 12, mounted on a rock-shaft 13 in any suitable waysuch, forinstance, as by means of a set-screw 1A. A follower 15 is secured uponthis rock-shaft in such manner that it will under the influence of thespring 11 follow down upon the roll of music-paper as the latter isunwound from the music-roll. This follower is shown in the form of.aroller carried in arms 16, fixedly mounted upon the rock-shaft.

The cooperative arrangement of parts described results in the followingmode of operation: Initially, as shown in Fig. 1 of the 5 drawings, thefollower-roll rests upon the surface of the music-sheet upon themusicroll, causing the rock-shaft to assume that position in which thecrank-arm and the spring connection of the latter with the movable arm 9carrying the brake-shoe will cause the brakeshoe to engage thebrake-wheel with the maximum contemplated efficiency, as illustrated inFig. 1.

As the music-sheet is drawn off from the music-roll onto the take-uproll the diameter of the roll of paper upon the music-roll decreases,and the follower-roll is caused by the spring 11 to follow downthereupon throughout the entire rewinding of the music-sheet. As thisfollowing down of roll takes place the crank-arm gradually assumes, say,the position shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings. Thus tension of the springis gradually weakened, and consequently the efliciency or force of theengagement of said brake-shoe with the brakewheel gradually reduced. Inthis manner the otherwise differential tension which would ensue uponthe unwinding of the music-sheet is compensated for and an even tensionand regularity of movement of the music-sheet throughout the operationsecured.

After the music-sheet has been entirely drawn off of the music-roll andwound upon the take-up roll it is usual, as is well known,

to rewind it upon the music-roll, and during this rewinding theinstrument, otherwise, is caused to remain inactive. This rewinding orrerolling of the music-sheet upon the music-roll is accomplished withmuch greater speed than the movement of the sheet in its traverse overthe tracker while a piece of music is being played, and in suchrewinding or rerolling the considerations of evenness of tension andregularity of movement are not of importance. To render as easy andexpeditious as possible the rewinding or rerolling of the music-sheet,the variable or compensating resistance mechanism may be thrown out ofoperation. This may be accomplished by the operator taking hold of thefollowerroll and swinging it out into the position shown in dotted linesin Fig. 1, the crank arm 12 being make to pass centers, as it were, andassume the position also shown in dotted lines in said figure, in whichposition of the parts the member 12 of the crank-arm engages thecarrying-arm and forces it into and holds it in the dotted-line positionillustrated,

in which position it is entirely out of engagement with the brake-wheel.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. In a mechanicalmusical instrument or instrument-player,the combination with amusic-roll, of a brake-wheel operatively connected to the music-roll torotate in unison therewith, an arm pivotally mounted at one end andprovided intermediate its ends with a brake-shoe adapted to coact withthe brakewheel, a rock-shaft, a crank mounted on said shaft, a springconnecting the free end of the pivoted arm to said crank, and a followermounted on the rock-shaft, under the influence of said spring, andadapted to follow down upon the roll of paper on the musicroll,substantially as described.

2. In a mechanical musical instrument or instrument-player,thecombination with a music-roll, a brake-wheel operatively connected tosaid roll to move in unison therewith, an arm pivoted at one end, abrake-shoe arranged on said arm intermediate the ends of the latter andadapted to coact with the brake-wheel, a rock-shaft, a two-armed crankmounted on said shaft, a spring connecting one arm of said crank withthe free end of the pivoted arm, a follower mounted on the rock-shaft,under the influence of the spring, and adapted to follow down upon theroll of paper on the music-roll, the other arm of the crank beingadapted when the follower is in inactive position to engage and withdrawthe brakeshoe from the brake-wheel, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

JOSEPH H. DICKINSON. itnesses:

WV. C. MANsFInLD, E. C. THOMPSON.

